Dredge and the like



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 deff/a?,

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O. W. ANDERSEN DREDGE AND THE LIKE Oct. 15, 1929.

Filed March 26, 1927 Oct. 15, 1929. o. w. ANDERSEN DREDGE AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented @et lli,

DREDGE AND THE lJlTrllE Application filed March 26, 19%?.

This invention relates to improvements in dredgges and the like, and more especially to suction dredges ot the type having` a suction nozzle adapted to be raised and lowered.

'lhe invention relates more particularly to a dredge ot the character described, having' a traveling screen or chain traversing the mouth ot the suction nozzle, in order to eirclude objects ci undesired size. The travelling` screen may take the form oi' a chain with separated links, thus forming a sieve or screen.

One of the objects oi:l my invention is the provision ot means adjacent the nozzle to prevent stones and other large objects from interfering` with the travel and operation oit the chain. The details oi such means and apparatus will be described and explained more in detail hereinafter.

l also provide improved means tor carrying the chain adjacent the nozzle to lessen friction where the chain traverses the mouth of the nozzle. Instead of a stationary track at this point with its consequent friction, l provide wheels to carry the lower bight ot the chain, thus reducingr friction to a minimum. The wheels that l use are disk wheels so that there are no spokes, or other projecting; parts on them that can be caught or en gagged by stones or other objects to lock them and prevent their tree rotation. The wheels being; disk wheels, also serve to exclude stones, and other objects, from the space between the wheels, thus assisting in preventing any undesired objects from entering); the space adjacent the nozzle where they might become caught by the chain and intertere with its proper operation.

Another feature ot' my invention is the provision of improved means tor carryine; the wheels at the end oit' the arm which carries the suction pipe. The wheels are carried by a shaft mounted on the end ot the arm. Improved means for carrying),` the nozzle itself also comprise a litting or clamp surrounding` the shaft between the wheels, such fitting or clamp serving' to support the nozzle from the shaft.

Another feature ot my invention is the provision of improved, replaceable chain Flerial. No. 178,'555.

track carried by the arm and improved means for protecting1 and guarding the chain.

@ther features and advantages olf my invention will. appear more iully as l proceed with my specilication.

ln that torni oit device embodying, the :tentures ot my .invention shown in the accompanyingr` drawings, lligr. l is a view in side elevation ot the arm carrying` the suction pipe, with the suction nozzle at the end, Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the line 2 oit l. llig. 3 a view in perspective ot the end ot the arm, litigi; l is a view taken as indicated by the line l ot' Fig. l, llllig 5 is a top plan view of a part ot the chain screen, llin'. G is a view in tront elevation oit the end ot the arm' and suction nozzle, and lilla). l' is a view et the same in side elevation with a part ot the end of the arm removed.

ils shown in the drawings, l() indicates a suitable arm preferably made up of truss members, struts, and braces, to give the desired strength and rigidity. The upper end ot the arm l() is pivoted at l0 so that its lower ond n ay be raised and lowered it desired. rlhe means tor raisin and lowering; the lower end ot the arm are not shown as they are in common use and term no` part ott the present invention.

llie arm l0 carries the usual suction pipe 1l and suitable means (not shown) are provided at the upper end tor sucking); water and material. to be dredged, upwardly through this pipe in the usual manner. rlhe lower end ot this pipe il terminates in a squared (in cross section) nozzle 12 having a month 13 opening; downwardly and rrnmded` at the sides as indicated by 13a.

l/l indicates in general the travelling screen chain formed oi' cross members or shafts lll-f* suitably joined by separated links le so that the chain forms virtually a screen or sieve. The bars 14s are provided at their' ends with the rollers le to lessen friction in the travel ot the chain onthe stationary tracks. rllhe chain is also j nfovided with )rejecting1 hooks, claws or fingers 14rd which serve to diggv into the place to be excavated, to loosen up, agritate, and stir up the material, thus permittingr the suction to more readily carry it away.

n ions 16 and 17. Any suitable motor or engine (not shown) may be used for driving these wheels.

The lower end of the arm 10 is provided with the two triangular side plates 18 and these carry the transversely mounted shaft 19 which is held to the edges of the plates by means of the clamping members 20. rI`he shaft 19 carries thegtwo solid or disk wheels 21, 21 which lie between the sides of the nozzle 12 and the plate 18. 21a indicates the periphery or tread of the wheel21, and 21b indicates a flange on the outside of this tread. The chain 14 is adapted to lie on the treads 21a and be retainedl thereon by means of the flanges 21". The wheels 21 are of such a size and so located that the periphery 21i1 will be substantially concentric with the rounded Vsides 13a of the mouth of the nozzle, lying slightly beyond the same, so that the chain 10,'invpassing over the wheels 21 will lie across Vthe mouth of the nozzle and close thereto, to `serve as a screen or sieve for the mouth and prevent entrance therethrough of undesired objects.-

The nozzle 12V is supported and held securely in position by means of the clamp 22 attached to its upper surface and surround ing the shaft 19. It will be seen, therefore, that the weight of the end of the nozzle is carried by the shaft 19, the ends of which are firmly attached and secured to the end of the arm 10. Y

The upper reach of the chain 14 is adapt- Y ed to be supported on the arm 10 on the removable and detachable track members 23 in the form of angle irons. These track members 23 are mounted on members of the arm l0 by meansof the rivets 24 as shown in Fig. 4, so'that they can be removed from the arm 10 for replacement or repair without dismantling the arm itself. Similarly, the low- ;er reach of the chain is carried on angle iron track members 25 which are also removable from the arm members 10. It is to be understood, that in normal operation, the upper reach of the chain travelsupwardly and the lower reach downwardly.

`It is to be notedl that the arm 10, being made of the usual truss or bridge construe tion, is substantially square in cross section and hollow, carrying the 'suction pipe 11 in its interior. At its lower end however, near the mouth of the nozzle, the arm is closed by a square diaphram or plate 26, provided with a central aperture large enough to accommodate the suction pipe 11. It will be seen that this diaphragm or plate 26 substantially fills the space in the arm between the upper and `lower reaches of the chain. The side edges of the diaphragm or plate 26 meet the rear edges of the triangular plates 18 (see Fig. 3). 27 indicates a curved apron, or guard plate extending from the upper edge of the diaphragm 26 forwardly and then curved downwardly until its lower edge 27 meets the upper edge of the mouth 13 of the nozzle. 28 indicates a flat plate extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the mouth of the nozzle and lying just above the lower reach of the chain 14. This plate 28 extends rearwardly from the nozzle until it meets the lower edge of the diaphragm 26 and then is continued and extended on upwardly through substantially the entire length of the arm 1G lying just above the lower reach of the chain 14. The curved plate or apron 27 is held in position by means of the angle irons 27 b and is of sufficient width so that it substantially fills the space between the treads 21 of the two wheels 21 (see Fig. 2). Its curvature is substantially the same as the curvature of these two treads and concentric with the same, but it lies slightly inside of the tread so that the chain 14 in passing over the wheels will lie close to the plate 27 but not in contact with it.

It will be seen that the plates 2G, 27, 18, and the lower end of the plate 28, taken together with the solid disk wheels 21, form virtually a closed box or housing around the nozzle 12, thus effectively preventing any stones or other undesired objects from getting in between the chain and wheels, or wheels and nozzle, or chain and nozzle, where they would catch, or jam, or interfere with the smooth working of the parts. Similarly, the plate 28, being extended upwardly through substantially the entire length of the arm 10 and lying above the chain 14, prevents any stones or other undesired objects, from riding on top of the lower reach of the chain, where they would cause damage or interference with the movement of the chain.

IVhile I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement n'lay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in View of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to sccure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a suction dredge of the character described, an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe carried in the interior of said arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth at the lower end of the arm, a chain screen carried by the arm and extending across the mouth of the nozzle; and means to prevent stones from being caught between the chain and the nozzle, said means including a diaphragm in the arm a short distance back of the mouth ot the nozzle surrounding the suction pipe and substantially lilling the space in the arm between the two reaches ot the chain.

52. ln a suction dredge of the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe carried in the interior of said arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth at the lower end ot the arm, a chain screen carried by the arm and extending across the mouth of the nozzle; and means to prevent stones from being caught between the chain and the nozzle, said means comprising a diaphragm in the arm a short distance back of the mouth oi the nozzle surrounding the suction pipe and substantially filling the space in the arm between the two reaches ot the` chain, and a curved plate extending from the upper edge of said diaphragm beneath the chain to the upper edge of the mouth ot the nozzle.

3. In a suction dredge ot the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe carried in the inten rior of said arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth at the lower end ol the arm, a chain screen carried by the arm and extending across the mouth out the nozzle; and means to prevent stones from being caught between the chain and the nozzle, said means comprising a diaphragm in the arm a short distance back of the mouth oil the nozzle surrounding the suction pipe and substantially filling the space in the arm between the two reaches of the chainn and a curved plate extending from the upper edge of said diaphragm beneath the chain to the upper edge of the mouth olf the nozzle, and another plate extending from the rear edge of the mouth oli the nozzle to the lower edge oil said diaphragm.

ll. In a suction dredge of the character described; an arm adapted to be raised. and lowered; a suction pipe carried on the inside of said arm and terminating in nozzle with a mouth near the lower end of the arm, said nozzle being substantially square in cross section and the side edges of the same being rounded; a chain screen carried by said arm and having its lower bight mounted on wheels adjacent the sides ot the nozzle whereby the chain is adapted to move across the mouth of the nozzle; and means 'for pre venting stones from lodging between the chain and the nozzle, said means comprising side plates on the arm, a diaphragm in the arm surrounding` the suction pipe and extending between the two reaches of the chain, a curved plate extending from the upper edge of the diaphram beneath the chain to the upper edge ol the square mouth, and another plate extending from the rear edge of the square mouth to the lower edge oi' said diaphragm.

5. In a suction dredge of the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe carried on the inside of said arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth near the lower end of the arm, said nozzle being substantially square in cross section and the side edges of the same being rounded; a chain screen carried by said arm and having its lower bight mounted on disk wheels adjacent the sides of the nozzle whereby the chain is adapted to move across the mouth of the nozzle; and means for preventing stones from lodging between the chain and the nozzle, said means com prising side pla-tes on the arm, a diaphragm in the arm surrounding the suction pipe and extending between the two reaches of the chain, a curved plate extending from the upper edge of the diaphragm beneath the chain to the upper edge ot the square mouth.l and another plate extending `from the rear edge of the square mouth to the lower edge oit said diaphragm.

6. ln a suction dredge of the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe carried on the inside ot said arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth near the lower end of the arm, said nozzle being substantially square in cross section and the side edges of the same being rounded; a chain screen carried by said arm and having its lower bight mounted ondisk wheels adjacent the sides ot the nozzle whereby the chain is adapted to move across the mouth oi the nozzle; a diaphragm in the arm extending downwardly to the lower reach of the chain; and a plate lying above the lower reach of the chain extending from the rear edge of the nozzle to the lower edge ot said diaphragm7 said plate, said diaphram, and said disk wheels serving to ezclude stones from the space under the nozzle between the nozzle andthe lower reach ot the chain.

7. In a suction dredge of the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction Ypipe carried by the arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth at the lower end ot the arm; a chain screen carried by the arm and having its bight lying across the mouth ot the nozzle; and means boxing in the nozzle between the two reaches ot the chain adjacent the mouth of the nozzle, whereby stones are excluded 'from the spaces above and below the nozzle between the nozzle and the reaches of the chain.

8. ln a. suction dredge ot the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe carried by the arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth at` the lower end ofthe arm; a. shaft mounted on theY loweil -end of the arm; a pair of disk wheels niountedon said shaft at the sides of the nozzle with their peripheries adjacent tthe mouth of the nozzle; a chain screen carried by the arm and having its lower bight lying over said wheels, whereby said chain screen will lie across the mouth of the nozzle; and means for supporting said nozzle from the aforementioned shaft.

9. yIn a suction dredge of the character described; an arm adapted to be raised and lowered; a suction pipe'ca-rried on the inside of seid arm and terminating in a nozzle with a mouth nea-r the lower end of the arm, said nozzle being` substantially square in cross section and theside edges oi the same being rounded; a chain screen carried by said arm and having its lower bight mounted on wheels adjacent the sides oil the nozzle, whereby'the chain is yadapted to move across the mouth ofthe nozzle; and a plate lying over the lower reach of the chain and extending backwardly andupwardly in said arm from the rear edge of the mouth of the nozzle.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand,vthis 24th day of March, A. D. 1927.

OSCAR W. ANDERSEN. 

